although second in a series this can be read as a stand alone and it was the second reading for me, the book i took away and devoured between church gigs on the island. the second reading really was as enjoyable as the first, the characters were so much more interesting and the amazing themes of the fermi paradox answered in the most creative and frightening way. why is there no signs of intelligent space-faring life in such a vast universe, why are there only ruins of alien civilisations with no trace of what happened to them. 

the answers lay within the pages of redemption ark. and it's an excellent story if you like your science fiction hard and filled with astronomy. some of the science went right over my head but I did use my imagination to understand what was going down with the naughty inhibitors as the story reached it's climax.

ar is my fave science fiction writer, he takes space and brings you it's vastness, and then diversity. the alien races are bizarre by human standards, the inhibitors artefacts from eons before earth was formed. the story focuses on the human tribes, demarchists, conjoiners and ultras all racing to a hidden caste of weapons that may be the only defence against the ongoing apocalypse. the characters are amazing, i loved them all especially the captain who is an  aberration. 

redemption is a wonderful name for the story as it shows multitudes of characters all seeking some form of it, no one is perfect. nevil clavain is a old human solider, weary, tragic and filled with nostalgia for his romantic interest, he's switched sides once and now he's about to do it again.